noun
- An aster-like structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell during mitosis or meiosis, consisting of radiating microtubules around a centrosome.
Usage: biology; cell biology; technical
Examples
- During cell division, the cytaster organizes the spindle fibers that pull chromosomes apart.
- The cytaster is visible under a microscope as a star-shaped arrangement of microtubules.
- Each pole of the dividing cell contains a cytaster that helps coordinate chromosome movement.
- The formation of the cytaster is essential for proper mitotic spindle assembly.